Automatic Linking Feature in SEO Booster

SEO Booster automatic linking admin page

Automatic linking associates keyword terms with URLs and injects links into rendered page output when autolink is enabled for that post or page: not into every URL on your site automatically.

Per-post gate

Autolink runs only on singular posts and pages where Automatic Linking is on in the SEO Booster metabox Page settings (_sbp-autolink === yes, default on for new content). The plugin also skips REST/JSON requests, search, feeds, sitemaps, embeds, 404s, and previews.

How matching works

When a visitor loads an enabled page, SEO Booster scans body content for configured keywords and wraps matches with links to your target URLs (internal or external).

The plugin avoids linking inside:

Always excluded: existing <a> tags, <script>, <style>, plus <head> and <title>
Excluded by default (configurable in Settings): headings (h1–h6), list items (li), list containers (ul, ol), and blockquotes
See Why aren’t my keywords being linked for page-builder edge cases

Settings control max links per post and whether only the first occurrence of each keyword is linked.

When you set up a rule, matches on enabled pages become hyperlinks on the next front-end view.

The plugin makes sure not to make a link where we do not want it. For instance in the middle of a headline or if the keyword it already is linking somewhere else. The system also makes sure not to try to make changes in the hidden parts of the code or parts that are supposed to have a link.

The links will only be created inside the content of the pages or product pages where it is practical to make a link.

How to add a new link

Go to SEO Booster → Automatic Links. See Automatic Links admin page for column reference and troubleshooting.

Here you can see you existing keyword phrases and links as well as add or delete.

Automatic Links list showing keyword-to-URL rules and the Last Used On column — Existing keyword rules with their target URLs and the Last Used On column.

Each row shows the keyword, its target URL, and the Last Used On column: the recent pages where that keyword was matched and linked.

To create a rule, use the Add new link form at the top of the page.

Add new link form with Keyword and Target URL fields — The Add new link form: enter a keyword and the URL it should link to.

Enter your keyword and any link you want it to point to, you can make it an internal link or any external link you want to use.

How to edit keywords

You can easily edit existing keywords if you made a typo or want to change a link. Just double click a keyword phrase or URL to make changes.

Edit existing keyword phrase — Double-click a keyword or URL to edit it inline.

Double click a keyword phrase or URL to make changes.

You can save your changes by pressing the return key on your keyboard or clicking the checkmark.

If you change your mind you can click the x to cancel your changes.

How to delete a keyword

Simply click the checkbox next to the keyword and select “Delete” from the “Bulk Actions”. Once you click the Apply button the selected entries will be deleted.

What happens when a keyword is deleted?

SEO Booster works on top of your existing content, which means the links do not exist in reality, it is constantly being injected via programming before a visitor sees your content.

Because of this there are no links inside your content to be deleted or changed, it simply stops becoming a link.

Key Features:

Safe Linking: The plugin avoids placing links inside always-excluded tags (<a>, <script>, <style>, plus <head> and <title>) and, by default, headings (h1–h6), list items, list containers, and blockquotes. You can adjust the configurable exclusions in Settings.
Per-Page Control: On each page, enable or disable automatic linking in the SEO Booster metabox Page settings (Automatic Linking toggle).
Link Limits: You can set a maximum number of links to be inserted.
First Occurrence Linking: By default, the plugin only converts the first occurrence of a keyword on a page into a link. However, you can change this setting to allow multiple links for the same keyword on a single page.

Why Automatic Linking is Important

Internal linking is a powerful SEO tool for several reasons:

- Indicates Relevance: Internal links help search engines understand the structure of your site and the relationship between pages. By linking certain keywords to specific pages, you’re signaling to Google that these pages are highly relevant for those terms.
Distributes Page Authority: Internal links distribute page authority (often referred to as “link juice”) throughout your site. When a page is linked to multiple times, it can help boost its authority, improving its chances of ranking higher in search engine results.
Guides Google’s Crawlers: Internal links act as a guide for search engine crawlers, directing them to your most important pages. This can be particularly beneficial in cases of keyword cannibalization, where multiple pages are competing for the same keyword. By focusing your internal linking on one key page, you can help ensure that Google knows which page to prioritize.

Best Practices for Automatic Linking

Use Specific Keywords: Choose keywords that are highly relevant to the target page. Avoid overly generic terms that might be too broad.
Avoid Over-Linking: While internal linking is beneficial, too many links can overwhelm readers and dilute the value of each link. The default limit is 1 link per page (adjustable from 1–99 in Settings).
Regularly Review Links: Over time, the content on your site may change. It’s important to periodically review your automatic links to ensure they’re still relevant and pointing to the correct pages.

Connecting to Keyword Cannibalization

This feature directly ties into the concept of keyword cannibalization, which occurs when multiple pages compete for the same keyword. By strategically using automatic linking, you can mitigate this issue by consolidating the keyword focus onto a single, authoritative page. This not only improves user experience but also helps search engines better understand which page to rank for that keyword.

For a deeper dive into keyword cannibalization and how internal linking can help resolve it, check out our article on How Internal Linking Can Help Prevent Keyword Cannibalization.

Next Steps

With the automatic linking feature, you’re equipped to enhance your site’s internal linking structure effortlessly. By following the best practices outlined above, you can harness the full potential of this tool to improve your site’s SEO and guide both users and search engines to your most important content.